Replacing a manual tranmission's clutch is not for the faint of heart. Yet for experienced mechanics, professionals, or seasoned shade-tree types, at-home clutch replacement is a good way to save money, as long as you're up to the challenge of the variables your vehicle can throw at you. The following should give you a good idea of the difficulties and obstacles involved. When it comes to replacing a clutch, forwarned is forearmed.

For the average auto owner, farming out major repairs is usually wise. Sure, saving on labor charges can be enticing, but hidden costs often undermine good intentions. (As a worst-case scenario, one emergency-room trip can make any at-home auto repair extremely non-worthwhile.) Besides, most shops offer some kind of warranty on their work, so the car owner has some recourse should the repair fail within a specified length of time. (Parts-failure warranties can be denied if the manufacturer deems that they were improperly installed by a do-it-yourselfer.)

Circumstances sometimes prompt the hardcore do-it-yourselfer to rise to the challenge of a major car repair. A few of the reasons that saner heads don't always prevail include pending divorces, making a lower-value vehicle saleable, and long winters that offer few other "entertainment" options.

Divorce settlements aside, the intent here is to provide an overview of the tools and tricks necessary to replace a clutch in your garage or driveway. Armed with this insight, you can decide whether or not biting off this job will be more than you can chew.

Case HistoryOur demonstration vehicle here is a 4WD Isuzu Trooper. It offers a variety of variables not found on all vehicles: two shift levers, the added weight and bulk of a transfer case, a front driveshaft, an exhaust crossover pipe, hydraulic clutch-linkage system, undercarriage skidplates, higher-than-average-cost replacement parts and tight access to many bolts (on account of the aforementioned components). The labor quote on a vehicle of this stature can be as much as twice the cost of the parts (which themselves are surprisingly higher than the typical million-selling car). On the plus side, this body-lifted Trooper has oversized tires that create enough clearance under the vehicle to access the necessary parts without having to raise the truck and put it on jackstands. Instead, we simply blocked the tires.

To reiterate, this isn't a step-by-step how-to on clutch replacement. Instead, it's an overview of some of the challenges to expect if you're considering doing this at home. The clutch job shown here took two weekend mechanics armed with air tools between 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., including a lunch break to get the flywheel resurfaced.

The bottom line: What's your time worth and are you willing to redo/troubleshoot your work should something not function afterward? On the other hand (assuming you haven't mangled it replacing your clutch), you stand to save a few hundred bucks-which could go to the future-ex anyway-and you might get some sick satisfaction out of rising to the challenge.

Installation Tips

> Park the vehicle on a level surface.

> Disconnect the negative battery cable.

> If necessary, raise the vehicle and secure it on jackstands to allow enough room to work.

> Read the clutch kit's instructions and refer to a service manual before beginning.

> A come-along or hand winch can be helpful when rolling the transmission/crossmember away from the engine on a floorjack.

> Accumulate socket extensions of varying lengths as well as socket "wobble" joints.

> Using two floorjacks provides an extra margin of safety.

> Just as brake rotors and drums should be "turned" when replacing pads and shoes, always resurface the flywheel as part of a clutch job. Replace a too-worn flywheel if necessary. Clean any grease off the flywheel before installing the new clutch.

> Once it's removed, inspect the old clutch for signs of other problems. (Oil on the clutch indicates a seal problem on the engine and/or transmission.)